Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 46

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46

The boardroom door creaked open, its sound cutting through the tense air like a blade.

Every head turned.

And in walked Ethan Storm.

The silence was electric. Disbelieving eyes followed his every step as he walked with slow, measured confidence toward the long table. Then-

Maxime’s expression snapped. His smugness dissolved into incredulous fury. “What are you doing here?” he barked. “You’re just a VIP client. You have no right to meddle in a Nova Corp board meeting!”

Ethan said nothing at first. His shoes clicked against the polished floor as he strolled forward.

Then he stopped at the owner’s seat-the one chair no one ever dared to sit in. It had been vacant for years. Symbolic. Revered. Reserved for the mysterious owner whose identity had always remained

hidden. 1

Without a word, Ethan sat down.

A beat of stunned silence-then laughter erupted around the room.

“He’s lost it,” Grayman snorted.

“What a joke,” Hendricks chuckled. “Sit there? Does he think we’re idiots?”

Even Bernard leaned in and whispered loudly, “What does he think that seat means?”

Maxime laughed the loudest, his voice full of scorn. “That chair belongs to the owner, Ethan. Not some charity case Elsa dragged in.” 1

Ethan leaned back, calmly slipping the ring from his finger. He raised it slowly, his voice level but cold.

“Funny. Because the last time I checked… none of you forgot this.”

The room froze.

Eyes widened. The laughter died in strangled throats. One by one, the board members stared at the ring- the obsidian band with a crest carved into it, unmistakable and sacred. (1)

Every member of Nova Corp’s inner circle had been told of it when they first joined.

That ring belonged to him.

The true owner.

The one who built Nova Corp from the shadows.

Grayman stood up so fast he knocked over his chair. “T-that can’t be-”

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“No way-he’s bluffing,” Bernard croaked.

Maxime’s face twisted. “It’s a fake,” he spat. Desperation flickered behind his eyes. He yanked out his phone, fingers shaking as he dialed furiously. “I’ll prove it. I’ll call the owner himself. I spoke with him just last night-”

But then, Ethan’s phone rang.

The same tone. At the same time.

Maxime froze.

Ethan answered with deliberate calm. “Yes. I’m here.”

Then he looked directly at Maxime, his gaze like steel. “You’re finished.”

Maxime’s phone slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, disbelief written across every inch of his face.

His allies-Grayman, Hendricks, Bernard-stood motionless, as if frozen in time.

Ethan rose from the owner’s seat, lifting a folder and flinging it across the table. Papers scattered- termination agreements, share transfers, all pre-prepared.

“I’ve known about your little rebellion since the beginning,” Ethan said, voice sharp. “You wanted to tear this company apart to satisfy your egos. You think loyalty is optional. It’s not.”

He pointed to the papers. “Sign them. Resign your positions. Hand over your shares. And get out of this city. Or I won’t guarantee your safety.”

Grayman’s hands shook as he signed. Hendricks followed, pale and clammy. Bernard didn’t speak-just signed and walked out.

Maxime was the last one still on his knees, eyes wild, lips trembling. He reached for the pen with a shaking hand. 1

But Ethan stopped him.

Maxime looked up slowly, horror creeping into his face.

“You don’t get to leave,” Ethan said flatly. “The others can disappear and start over. But you? You plotted to dismantle this company. You dragged Alice’s name into your games. You tried to humiliate Elsa. You came after people who trusted you.”

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